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(illegible text) appease the hunger that was preying upon (illegible text)em; others asked for their hammocks, that (illegible text)y might go between decks and get a little (illegible text)ep; many imagined themselves to be still on (illegible text)ard the Medusa. Even after this fatal night (illegible text)ny imagined themselves, in the morning, (illegible text)akened from a frightful dream, in which battles (illegible text)d slaughter had disturbed their rest.’
On the return of the day it was found, that in (illegible text) course of the preceding night of horror, sixty-(illegible text) of the mutineers had perished, and two of (illegible text) small party attached to the officers. Before (illegible text) allowance was served out they contrived to (illegible text) up their mast afresh; but having no compass, (illegible text)d not knowing how to direct their course, they (illegible text) the raft drive before the wind, apparently indifferent whither they went. Enfeebled with (illegible text)nger, they now tried to catch fish, but could (illegible text) succeed, and abandoned the attempt.
It was necessary, however, that some extreme (illegible text)asure should be adopted to prolong our miserable (illegible text)stence; we shudder with horror on finding (illegible text)rselves under the necessity of relating what (illegible text) put in practice; we feel the pen drop from (illegible text)r hands; a deadly coldness freezes all our (illegible text)bs, and our hair, stands on end—Reader, we (illegible text) do not entertain, for men already too unfortunate, a sentiment of indignation; but (illegible text)eve for them, and shed a tear of pity over (illegible text)eir unhappy lot.’
The ‘extreme measure was,’ indeed, horrible: (illegible text) unhappy men, whom death had spared in (illegible text) course of the night, fell upon the carcases of (illegible text) dead, and began to devour them; some tried
